Preparing for a New Baby: 50 Things to Do with Your Child to Create a Strong Sibling Bond
Welcoming a new baby into the family is an exciting and joyous time, but it can also bring about some challenges for older siblings. As parents, it’s important to help your child adjust to the new addition and create a strong bond between them. This not only benefits the siblings, but also the entire family dynamic. In this blog post, we will discuss 50 things you can do with your child to prepare for and create a strong sibling bond with their new brother or sister.
1. Start talking about the baby early: As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, start talking to your child about the new baby and what it means to be a big brother or sister.
2. Involve them in the pregnancy: Take your child to doctor’s appointments, let them feel the baby kick, and involve them in choosing names and decorating the nursery.
3. Read books about becoming a big sibling: There are many wonderful books available that can help your child understand and prepare for the arrival of their new sibling.
4. Watch videos of babies: Show your child videos of babies and talk to them about how they will look and act when the new baby arrives.
5. Encourage them to help: As the pregnancy progresses, involve your child in helping with tasks like setting up the crib or folding baby clothes.
6. Talk about what to expect: Explain to your child what will happen when you go to the hospital to have the baby and how things will change when the new baby comes home.
7. Plan a special outing: Take your child on a special outing before the baby arrives, just the two of you, to spend quality time together.
8. Create a sibling photo album: Make a photo album of pictures of your child and their new sibling to look at together and talk about.
9. Have a special gift for your child: Before the baby is born, give your child a special gift “from the baby” to make them feel included and loved.
10. Talk about their role as a big sibling: Explain to your child what it means to be a big sibling and how important their role will be in the family.
11. Encourage them to talk about their feelings: It’s normal for children to have mixed feelings about a new baby, so encourage them to talk about their emotions and reassure them that it’s okay to feel a range of emotions.
12. Practice holding a doll: If your child is old enough, teach them how to hold a baby safely by practicing with a doll.
13. Set aside special alone time: Make sure to set aside time to spend alone with your child once the baby arrives to reassure them of their importance and love.
14. Talk about sharing: Explain to your child that they will need to share their toys and time with their new sibling, but also remind them that they will still have their own special things and time.
15. Involve them in baby care: Encourage your child to help with tasks like getting diapers or holding the baby’s bottle (under supervision, of course).
16. Make a countdown calendar: Create a fun countdown calendar with your child to mark the days until the new baby arrives.
17. Talk about their birth story: Share your child’s birth story with them and talk about how special and loved they were when they were born.
18. Help them understand the baby’s needs: Explain to your child that babies cry because that’s the only way they can communicate their needs, and reassure them that it’s not because the baby is unhappy.
19. Practice introducing the baby: If your child is old enough, practice introducing them to family and friends as a big sibling before the baby arrives.
20. Plan a special gift from the baby: Have the new baby give a special gift to your child when they first meet to create a special moment between them.
21. Encourage them to talk to the baby: After the baby is born, encourage your child to talk to them and tell them stories or sing songs.
22. Have a special “big sibling” outfit: Let your child pick out a special outfit to wear when they first meet the baby or to wear for special occasions when they are acting as a big sibling.
23. Give them a job: Assign a special job for your child to do, like being the “baby whisperer” or the “diaper fetcher,” to make them feel important and included.
24. Talk about the baby’s schedule: Explain to your child that the baby will need to nap and eat at certain times and that they may need to adjust their own schedule to accommodate this.
Preparing for a New Baby: 50 Things to Do with Your Child to Create a Strong Sibling Bond
25. Practice gentle touches: If your child is young, practice gentle touches with them using a stuffed animal to teach them how to be gentle with the baby.
26. Make a special space for the baby: Allow your child to help decorate and prepare a special space for the baby in their room or in the house.
27. Plan a special outing with the baby: Once the baby is old enough, plan a special outing for your child and their new sibling, such as a trip to the park or the zoo.
28. Talk about the baby’s development: As the baby grows, involve your child in learning about their development and milestones.
29. Have a sibling photo shoot: Schedule a professional photo shoot with your child and their new sibling to capture this special time in their lives.
30. Make a handprint/footprint craft: Create a handprint or footprint craft with your child and their new sibling to hang in their room as a reminder of their bond.
31. Have a sibling bonding day: Plan a day filled with activities that will help your children bond, such as making crafts, baking cookies, or playing games together.
32. Teach them baby sign language: If your child is old enough, teach them baby sign language so they can communicate with their new sibling.
33. Read to the baby together: Encourage your child to read to the baby or look at books together to help them bond.
34. Take a family trip: Plan a trip as a family to create special memories and bond as a family unit.
35. Talk about their similarities and differences: Help your child see the similarities and differences between themselves and their sibling to celebrate their uniqueness and develop a strong bond.
36. Have a “big sibling only” outing: Plan a special outing with just your child and their new sibling to give them one-on-one time together.
37. Create a special sibling handshake: Let your child and their sibling come up with a special handshake or secret code to make them feel connected and special.
38. Practice sharing: Encourage your child to share their toys and time with their new sibling, but also make sure to set aside toys that are just for them.
39. Take sibling photos: Take photos of your children together throughout the pregnancy and the first year to document their growing bond.
40. Make a scrapbook together: Create a scrapbook with your child and their new sibling to document their journey as siblings.
41. Celebrate “sibling day”: Choose a special day each month to celebrate being siblings and do something fun together.
42. Have a special “big sibling” meal: Let your child pick their favorite meal to have as a special “big sibling” meal.
43. Encourage them to be a helper: Make your child feel important and needed by asking for their help with tasks like picking out outfits or holding the baby’s hand.
44. Have a sibling movie night: Choose a movie that features siblings and watch it together as a family.
45. Teach them to take turns: Help your child learn the importance of taking turns and sharing with their new sibling to avoid conflicts.
46. Take a sibling class: Look for classes in your area specifically designed for siblings to attend together to learn and bond.
47. Have a sibling dance party: Turn on some music and have a fun dance party with your children to bond and have fun together.
48. Celebrate milestones together: Make sure to celebrate milestones like first steps or first words with both your children to create special memories together.
49. Teach them empathy: Help your child understand and empathize with their new sibling’s feelings and needs.
50. Show them love and affection: Remind your child often how much they are loved and how important they are to the family.
In summary, preparing for a new baby and creating a strong sibling bond takes effort and intentionality. By involving your child in the pregnancy, encouraging them to help and talk about their feelings, and creating special moments and memories together, you can help your child adjust to their new role as a big sibling and create a strong bond between them and their new sibling.